Many believed the Pirates would still be pretty good with quarterback Jack Wurzer, linebacker Cauy Hendee and wide receiver defensive back Nick Cain coming back. But with all of those key guys to Pinckney’s 2016 success leaving, even those who were the most optimistic had to figure the Pirates would struggle in the early weeks of the season.

Well, after nearly knocking off SEC powerhouse Chelsea, that’s clearly not the case at all.

The Pirates lost 10-7 but a statement was made. Chelsea hadn’t been held to 10 points or fewer since Week 8 of the 2015 season, a 9-7 win over Ann Arbor Pioneer.

Chelsea has steamrolled through the SEC White in recent years. That’s not guaranteed to happen anymore. Pinckney coach Rod Beaton and his players have brought their KLAA experience over, and are using it to show they will be a threat in the SEC and the Division 2 playoffs.

Brighton looks like the KLAA Black’s best team

Maybe it’s a little early to make this declaration, but the Bulldogs have looked amazing through the first two weeks of the season, almost beating a Belleville team with 10 Division I prospects and thrashing Hartland, 49-21, in Week 2.

The Bulldogs should have won the Belleville game if not for some unfortunate events at the end. Meanwhile, Brighton’s biggest competition — Canton and Novi — have lost lopsided games, the former to fellow KLAA Black team Livonia Stevenson.

Stevenson was 5-5 last year, giving up 65 more points than it scored. And while the Spartans look legit this year, Bulldogs head coach Brian Lemons appears to have his guys operating at another level.

If Brighton rolls through the Black, it will be interesting to see what it can do in the playoffs.

Howell could be in some trouble

After a 0-2 start and lopsided loss to Salem on Thursday, it’s hard not to be a bit worried about this Howell team. It’s not because it doesn’t have the talent. It does. But it just doesn’t have the time.

Caledonia and Salem were two of the “easier” opponents on the Highlanders’ schedule. Now, the Highlanders are looking at six straight weeks against playoff teams from 2016, including Novi, Livonia Stevenson, Livonia Franklin, Brighton and Canton.

That’s brutal.

Howell got off to a bit of a slow start last year, but still won games thanks to solid defense and outstanding play from quarterback Ryan Brennan. But Brennan is gone, and the 2017 defense is a work in progress due to 34 seniors graduating.

It’s a bit reminiscent of Hartland in 2016.

The Eagles lost quite a few players and opened 2016 with Novi, Salem, Canton and Howell. All four were playoff teams. And with such a tough schedule early on, the Eagles never could get their feet under them, and it ended in a 3-6 year.

Hartland’s still not quite right

Lost in the excitement of the come-from-behind win against Westland John Glenn was that the Eagles still needed a comeback and overtime to beat a team that in the previous two seasons has just four total wins.

In Week 2, John Glenn proved that it’s better this year than it has been, keeping things close against Grand Blanc in a 26-21 loss, but in past seasons it’s hard not to believe the Eagles would have won in a blowout.

Then, on Thursday night, Hartland let up 49 points and 465 yards of total offense to Brighton.

It appears the Eagles still are not back to being the version we saw only a couple of years ago, a perennial playoff team and division championship contender. Just how far they must go to get back there should be seen in Week 3, when they match up with Canton.